Preview — Murder on the Orient Express
by Agatha Christie

Murder on the Orient Express

What more can a mystery addict desire than a much-loathed murder victim found aboard the luxurious Orient Express with multiple stab wounds, thirteen likely suspects, an incomparably brilliant detective in Hercule Poirot, and the most ingenious crime ever conceived?

I by rule of thumb will not give a mystery 5 stars so this one gets a 4.5 because Hercule Poirot's Murder on the Orient Express by the grand dame of mysteries Agatha Christie is no ordinary mystery. I read this back in high school and decided to pick it up when I saw "read a book you read in high school" on my public library's reading challenge this year. I have enjoyed Poirot pretty much since I was old enough to read on my own. Christie goes deep into her characters and just when you think youI by rule of thumb will not give a mystery 5 stars so this one gets a 4.5 because Hercule Poirot's Murder on the Orient Express by the grand dame of mysteries Agatha Christie is no ordinary mystery. I read this back in high school and decided to pick it up when I saw "read a book you read in high school" on my public library's reading challenge this year. I have enjoyed Poirot pretty much since I was old enough to read on my own. Christie goes deep into her characters and just when you think you solved the case, she has Poirot reveal a completely different outcome. This book was just as fast reading as the majority of mysteries I read today. The differences are 1. Her language is much more colorful than the average contemporary author, 2. She develops every character in depth even if they will only appear in one book, and 3. It is not obvious to the average reader whodunit soon into the book. Due to the nature of the book it became fast reading and enjoyable. I can see why Christie is the measuring stick that all mystery writers base themselves on today, and I look forward to rereading more of her books this year....more

You know what I love about this book, Goodreads? You wanna know what makes this book just a downright pleasure to read? It’s just a good old-fashioned murder mystery with no frills, no multiple timelines, not big plot twists, no no no no. It’s not that at all.

It’s just a short little mystery with an overwhelming cast of characters to keep track of, and, gee whiz, are these guys eccentric. And they all could be a suspect.

So here’s how the book breaks down:

There is a murder on the Orient ExpressYou know what I love about this book, Goodreads? You wanna know what makes this book just a downright pleasure to read? It’s just a good old-fashioned murder mystery with no frills, no multiple timelines, not big plot twists, no no no no. It’s not that at all.

It’s just a short little mystery with an overwhelming cast of characters to keep track of, and, gee whiz, are these guys eccentric. And they all could be a suspect.

So here’s how the book breaks down:

There is a murder on the Orient Express. I’m sorry if that spoiled the book for you. Poirot and his awesome mustache interview the passengers on the train. Poirot, awesomely mustached, considered everyone’s testimony and examines all of the evidence. Poirot, alone with aforementioned mustache, creates some theories of what could have happened. Poirot and his mustache address the others with what happened at the end of the book.

That’s it.

And the end is absolutely worth it.

I really enjoyed kicking back and just settling into this one. I never found myself thing to solve the mystery on my own. I just let the story unfold without drawing my own conclusions. I loved the simplistic format of crime, interviews, evidence, solve the crime, books over. Have a nice day. It’s a really concise mystery that doesn’t waste time with fluff and description, except Poirot’s mustache. It’s driven by dialogue as the investigation plays out, not by unnecessary side plots or backstory or whatever.

This was my third Agatha Christie novel, and I’ve loved al of them so far. I’m only ready the popular ones though, and i guess I have like 63 to go or something. I’m not holding my breath. She’s a great writer though and can really weave a story together with a satisfying ending.

And now I get to watch the newish movie that came out last year. More on that later, maybe. I doubt it.

Murder on the Orient Express is one of Agatha Christie's most revered books for a reason. She uses the trope of the locked room mystery as a foundation and then further heightens the "impossible" crime by situating that locked room on a moving train. If that's not enough reinventing of the old mystery wheel for one day, her solution is also a bit of aof COURSE i made a list for this one!

LOCKED ROOM MYSTERIES FOR FANS OF MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS

*A locked room gathers many corpses. But HOW??*

Murder on the Orient Express is one of Agatha Christie's most revered books for a reason. She uses the trope of the locked room mystery as a foundation and then further heightens the "impossible" crime by situating that locked room on a moving train. If that's not enough reinventing of the old mystery wheel for one day, her solution is also a bit of a game-changer, but I'll not say too much about that here!

I will, however, offer some suggestions for readers looking for locked room mysteries that are a bit off the beaten path. During the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, locked room stories were very popular, and those of you who are interested in classic examples of the genre should have no trouble finding print anthologies or online archives to explore. But i'm drawn to the "yes, and..." approach to writing, with conventions given a little twist, genres blended, those unexpected tweaks that make a book memorable. So, while these books all feature locked rooms of one sort or another, there's an extra bit swirled into them that makes them stand apart from the crowd.

The Publisher Says: Just after midnight, a snowdrift stopped the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train was surprisingly full for the time of the year. But by the morning there was one passenger fewer. A passenger lay dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside.

My Review: Well, that was a concise-to-the-point-of-terseness summary. But I suspect most of us who are voracious or evenRating: 5* of five, mostly for the Agatha Christie's Poirot adaptation

The Publisher Says: Just after midnight, a snowdrift stopped the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train was surprisingly full for the time of the year. But by the morning there was one passenger fewer. A passenger lay dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside.

My Review: Well, that was a concise-to-the-point-of-terseness summary. But I suspect most of us who are voracious or even simply serious readers of mystery fiction don't need too much more than that to recall the details to mind.

The novel, published in 1934, is a bit of a stretch for a modern mystery-reader's sense of fair play. Poirot's famous/infamous "little gray cells" are pumpin' full-bore and lead him to near-miraculous feats of deduction. The novel's Poirot is, at the end, almost cavalier about the hugely out-of-character ending. It almost feels as if Christie said to herself, "Self, I've had enough of this character's ethics and am writing MY ending not his."

Her book, her rules.

The 1974 film, available on Amazon Prime, is rather sabotaged by Albert Finney's ham-fisted death-grippy nasality as Poirot. I want to give him a neti pot and a Fleet bottle and insist he use both before coming back on screen. Damned bad casting.

The filmed-for-television version offers more scope for fair play with the reader as Poirot is seen to do things and discover things that lead him to a startling and evidently disturbing conclusion. In keeping with the films' expansion of the Poirot character, the book's resolution is more nuanced, and affords a modern viewer more satisfaction in that the character of Poirot is clearly emotionally involved in the murder's resolution and becomes a richer, more relatable person as a result.

Both versions of the story are so improbable as to be absurd, on the face of it. But in a world run on decent principles, such a story and such a resolution would be more common than not. I feel very Old-Testament-y about people who harm children or animals for cruelty or sport.

The film's other deviations from the novel are also deepening the sense of Poirot's reality as a person, and indicative of just how very surprising this ending is within the understanding Christie has given us of Poirot's essential relationship to crime-solving. A scene at the beginning of the film, between Poirot and a soldier (hinted at in the original), is particularly important in setting the tone for this story's exceptional place in the Poirot canon. Another early scene in Istanbul is, in my opinion, gratuitous; well conceived, but not necessary, and frankly unpleasant in the light it sheds on Poirot.

But the sheer visual beauty of this film! The pitch-perfect Poirot of David Suchet! Ah mes amis, this is the treat most exceptional, this feast is the repast most gustatorial for the lover of the how you call a crime drama. It is the pleasure most complete. Replenish yourselves and your little gray cells! ...more

All right, someone needs to tell this Janie-come-lately hack Agatha Christie to stop cribbing a page from the Snakes on a Plane handbook with her titles.

Who does she think she is, infringing on the territory of the redoubtable Samuel L. Jackson? Good luck having a future in this business, lady, with those kinds of backdoor shenanigans.*

There’s no way this stakes**-on-a-train whodunit is going to register as more than a blip on the mystery-reading public’s consciousness, given that the bumblingAll right, someone needs to tell this Janie-come-lately hack Agatha Christie to stop cribbing a page from the Snakes on a Plane handbook with her titles.

Who does she think she is, infringing on the territory of the redoubtable Samuel L. Jackson? Good luck having a future in this business, lady, with those kinds of backdoor shenanigans.*

There’s no way this stakes**-on-a-train whodunit is going to register as more than a blip on the mystery-reading public’s consciousness, given that the bumbling trio of investigators—a handlebar mustache-sporting Sherlock wannabe*** supported by a perpetually perplexed and watered-down Watson and a dirty doctor—treat a dead body more like a broken balloon than a human being. The supporting cast—a hodgepodge of stock characters**** with bad accents—couldn’t get their cover stories straight with the help of a flat iron. And that “twist” ending***** was as predictable as the outcome of a lawn mower running over a squirrel (which we all know means squirrel soup for dinner).

What a steaming pile of warmed over detective redux.****** I need a quality literary pallet cleanser after that…now, where’s my copy of Saved by the Bell…?

*I understand some people are highly in favor of backdoor shenanigans, which is understandable

**Because stakes are kind of like knives, which are used to stab someone in the book…duh

***Hercule Poirot is, in fact, unquestionably one of detective fiction’s greatest sleuths and departs from the Brains of 221B Baker Street in significant ways

****The reason some of these cats seem like stock charactersis because so many stories have been influenced by Murder on the Orient Express; I guess you could say that Agatha Christie was the original shelf stocker

*****The classic and delightful twist has been repeated and parodied so many times across so many mediums that it’s become cliché, but it still feels surprising and shocking when you read the book

******It’s a classic for a reason, people—sure, it’s got some creaky parts and some less-than-stellar turns of phrase, but it was an original and innovative story that’s been read, copied, and imitated countless times since its publication…well worth a read

(I tried to work in the murderer being a TRAINed killer with a "loco motive"...but that would have just been ridiculous.)...more

I have been wanting to read books by Agatha Christie for years, yet whenever I made it to a bookstore I would get lost in the aisles and forget about my desires. Luckily for me, Kennett Branagh decided to remake Murder on the Orient Express. The movie was fantastic and everything I wanted it to be, which gave me perfect reason to find the book and give it a shot! And it was INCREDIBLE.

I'm amazed by how talented Agatha Christie was. The pure talent for writing shown in this book is so shocking, aI have been wanting to read books by Agatha Christie for years, yet whenever I made it to a bookstore I would get lost in the aisles and forget about my desires. Luckily for me, Kennett Branagh decided to remake Murder on the Orient Express. The movie was fantastic and everything I wanted it to be, which gave me perfect reason to find the book and give it a shot! And it was INCREDIBLE.

I'm amazed by how talented Agatha Christie was. The pure talent for writing shown in this book is so shocking, and it makes me desperate to read every other book she has written. Hopefully, I'll be able to find them in my adventures!

This book is the 10th novel in the series, but it is very easy to pick up and start reading. I had no issue being pulled into the story and not wanting to put the book down. The language is a bit old fashioned (since it's an older book) so there may be a disconnect for some present readers, but that seemed to be the only issue I could find when I picked this book apart.

In short, the plot for this book is there is a murder on the Orient Express train and Hercule Poirot (a wildly famous detective) is determined to solve it. The twist? Multiple suspects aboard a stalled train.

The book is fun, fast paced and wildly addicting. If you love a good mystery, trying to solve this story is absolutely delightful! Everyone has an alibi and Poirot can only find out information by asking questions and looking at their reactions (because...GASP!...there's no electronic devices in the time period this book is set in). I knew the ending already from watching the movie, but trying to pick out the evidence that led to Hercule's final thoughts was so much fun! I scrambled along the way and enjoyed every second of this book.

Overall, this book is a great read! If you want to read a classic, a mystery or just a fun book I really suggest this one! It'll keep you hooked and make your head spin in circles.

I read through the Agatha Christie books in my 20s and loved them. Before seeing the movie, I decided to re-read this one. And it didn't disappoint. Agatha Christie really is the Grand Dame of Mystery.

And what a clever case it is. One victim, multiple suspects, and the classic "locked door" mystery. There are no tricks, no clever devices to shock and surprise the reader. Instead the reader, along with Poirot, must use their powers of observation, what Poirot would call the "little gray cells" tI read through the Agatha Christie books in my 20s and loved them. Before seeing the movie, I decided to re-read this one. And it didn't disappoint. Agatha Christie really is the Grand Dame of Mystery.

And what a clever case it is. One victim, multiple suspects, and the classic "locked door" mystery. There are no tricks, no clever devices to shock and surprise the reader. Instead the reader, along with Poirot, must use their powers of observation, what Poirot would call the "little gray cells" to solve the case. Perfection.

Fittingly, I listened to this during a snowstorm. The narrator of the audio is excellent - I highly recommend!...more

Earth, 1930-something: The Doctor is enjoying a quiet train ride across Europe after an exciting adventure in Constantinople (involving a staring contest between a Dalek and a Weeping Angel) when a fellow passenger is murdered. With the train stopped by heavy snows, and the TARDIS nowhere in sight, the Doctor must use all his timey-wimey cunning to solve...THE MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS! And stop the universe from blowing up, again.

Oh, c'mon, you know they're going to do that story eApril 2012

Earth, 1930-something: The Doctor is enjoying a quiet train ride across Europe after an exciting adventure in Constantinople (involving a staring contest between a Dalek and a Weeping Angel) when a fellow passenger is murdered. With the train stopped by heavy snows, and the TARDIS nowhere in sight, the Doctor must use all his timey-wimey cunning to solve...THE MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS! And stop the universe from blowing up, again.

Oh, c'mon, you know they're going to do that story eventually.

So, my first Poirot mystery--and my first Agatha Christie novel, for that matter. I'll admit, I was a little underwhelmed for most of the story, as the set-up to the murder and the initial investigation didn't hold my attention, and the mystery, at first, seemed far too simple. "Aha!" I thought, "clearly ___ is the murderer!" But then, some pages later: "No, wait, clearly ____ is really the murderer!" followed much to quickly by "Surely ___! No, ___! No..." and after a while the evidence piled up, the characters became way too connected, and the entire story seemed too outlandish to believe. "I can't take this anymore!" I wanted to yell. "What the hell is going on?"

And then Poirot solved the mystery, and I changed my initial 3-star rating to 4. Oho, Dame Christie, you sure fooled me!

HA! Now I know why MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS is depicted as one of Agatha Christie's best.......

The dandified Detective Hercule Poirot (and his curlicue mustache) just happened to be traveling on a three day journey across Europe on the resplendent Orient Express when the train is detained by a snowdrift; and all seems well otherwise, that is, until morning when millionaire Samuel Rachett is found dead as a doornail in his compartment with multiple stab wounds. (no spoiler here)

With M. Poirot

HA! Now I know why MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS is depicted as one of Agatha Christie's best.......

The dandified Detective Hercule Poirot (and his curlicue mustache) just happened to be traveling on a three day journey across Europe on the resplendent Orient Express when the train is detained by a snowdrift; and all seems well otherwise, that is, until morning when millionaire Samuel Rachett is found dead as a doornail in his compartment with multiple stab wounds. (no spoiler here)

With M. Poirot leading the investigation, he makes fast work of unraveling suspicious clues and the dozen or so passenger interviews, soon propounding two possible solutions to the puzzle that result in the......

I'd seen the 1974 Albert Finney film a number of times so I already knew who dunnit. Nevertheless, reading Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express was an enjoyable experience. I'd just reread Murders in the Rue Morgue. Comparing Poe's detective, Dupin, with Christie's, Hercule Poirot, was thus unavoidable but quite interesting. Dupin sees solving the murders as something amusing. Likewise, Poirot sees his investigation of the murders on the Orient Express as a break from boredom. No doubtI'd seen the 1974 Albert Finney film a number of times so I already knew who dunnit. Nevertheless, reading Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express was an enjoyable experience. I'd just reread Murders in the Rue Morgue. Comparing Poe's detective, Dupin, with Christie's, Hercule Poirot, was thus unavoidable but quite interesting. Dupin sees solving the murders as something amusing. Likewise, Poirot sees his investigation of the murders on the Orient Express as a break from boredom. No doubt both Poe and Christie shaped the detectives we still see in fiction. Will be reading some more Christie and Poe. 3.5 stars. ...more

I wonder if the author Agatha Christie was secretly a serial killer who got away with her crimes and then just turned them into novels - I kid, I kid. But, I can definitely see why she is known for her murder mysteries - there's absolutely no way anyone could possibly have solved this one before Inspector Poirot lays it all out at the very end of the book, despite the fact that all the clues needed to solve it are given basically from the outset.

This murder mystery written in 1934 still reads wI wonder if the author Agatha Christie was secretly a serial killer who got away with her crimes and then just turned them into novels - I kid, I kid. But, I can definitely see why she is known for her murder mysteries - there's absolutely no way anyone could possibly have solved this one before Inspector Poirot lays it all out at the very end of the book, despite the fact that all the clues needed to solve it are given basically from the outset.

This murder mystery written in 1934 still reads well even today. So if you are looking for a 'classic' to pickup, I recommend this one! The audiobook narrator, Dan Stevens, does a rather great job too. ...more

Happiness is when I'm reminded of books near and dear to my heart, that I perhaps read in another lifetime , and that readers are discovering for their first time. Walking along the beach path I overhear bits and pieces of other conversations and last week was one of those magical days. Two young women were walking together when one asked the other, "Have you ever read Agatha Christie? My favorite teacher - 7th grade English- turned us on to her. She is so amazing. I'm reading Murder on the OrieHappiness is when I'm reminded of books near and dear to my heart, that I perhaps read in another lifetime , and that readers are discovering for their first time. Walking along the beach path I overhear bits and pieces of other conversations and last week was one of those magical days. Two young women were walking together when one asked the other, "Have you ever read Agatha Christie? My favorite teacher - 7th grade English- turned us on to her. She is so amazing. I'm reading Murder on the Orient ExpreSs..." And then muffled words and the young women outpaced us. I was willing to jog to keep up with the conversation but my husband would have none of that nonsense.

What do I love so about this story? I love the setting on the train - that closed environment. I love the way my mind is forced to see new connections between the characters. Christies structure is like watching a magician on stage when you have some knowledge of magic yourself...you admire the sleight of hand and wonder how she pulls it off so smoothly. Someday I will ride the Orient Express and smile my secret smile of contentment reimagining her art.

A little later I overheard two older surf dudes carrying their long boards deep in a discussion of Game of Thrones and politics and I thought how marvelous to walk the beach among readers....more

Misery loves company. Now that I know who dunnit I'm not going to tell you, but rather let you suffer through the torment of not knowing, the embarrassment of thinking your guess must be correct only to find you are WRONG! You are wrong because Poirot and the woman who created him are both smarter than you. Suck it, that's just the way it is. It's a truth as true in 1934 as it is today. Christie is synonymous with clever. Her plot constructions will out-wit the pants right off you...if her charaMisery loves company. Now that I know who dunnit I'm not going to tell you, but rather let you suffer through the torment of not knowing, the embarrassment of thinking your guess must be correct only to find you are WRONG! You are wrong because Poirot and the woman who created him are both smarter than you. Suck it, that's just the way it is. It's a truth as true in 1934 as it is today. Christie is synonymous with clever. Her plot constructions will out-wit the pants right off you...if her characters haven't already charmed them off....more

“Mon ami, if you wish to catch a rabbit you put a ferret into the hole, and if the rabbit is there he runs. That is all I have done.”

Monsieur Poirot is full of nuggets of wisdom like that, often leaving his listeners completely nonplussed.

I recently saw the trailer for the 2017 adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express, and I figured now may be a good time to reread this book, which I first read decades ago. I recently said in my The Moonstone review that knowing the solution to a murder mys“Mon ami, if you wish to catch a rabbit you put a ferret into the hole, and if the rabbit is there he runs. That is all I have done.”

Monsieur Poirot is full of nuggets of wisdom like that, often leaving his listeners completely nonplussed.

I recently saw the trailer for the 2017 adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express, and I figured now may be a good time to reread this book, which I first read decades ago. I recently said in my The Moonstone review that knowing the solution to a murder mystery tend to substantially reduce the entertainment value of the book. I remembered the denouement of The Moonstone very well because it is so outrageous. The same can be said for Murder on the Orient Express, Ms Christie’s solution is equally outrageous. However, this book has some advantages over The Moonstone. The Moonstone is often cited as being the prototype detective novel, by the time Murder on the Orient Express came along Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and other others have also refined the genre into a fine and very popular art. Ms Christie’s secret weapon is her ace detective Hercule Poirot, “a little man with enormous moustaches” and an egg-shaped head. Kenneth Branagh as Poirot, not so little, no egg-shaped head, and the moustache is unfeasibly enormous.

The plot of Murder on the Orient Express is wonderfully simple. The famous Orient Express train travelling from Stamboul (Istanbul) to Calais and beyond, runs into a snowdrift and has to stop until the track is cleared. During this long stoppage a passenger is murdered, he apparently died from a dozen stab wounds. Poirot is assisted in his investigation by his pal M. Bouc and Dr Constantine, both of whom are of course completely flummoxed by the seeming impossibility of the crime under the circumstances. Poirot questions the numerous suspects extensively. “Ma foi!” but they are all full of BS that has to be sifted through. After he is done with badgering the passengers he kicks back to do some awesome contemplation (no mention of a “mind palace”), his little grey cells going into overdrive.

Poirot is not nearly as cool as Sherlock (I cannot imagine Benedict Crumblebuns as Poirot) but he is very endearing. His methods seem to rely less on forensic evidence than on badgering the suspects until they give themselves away; a technique that may have inspired the eccentric detective Columbo. Christie’s characterization is interesting, there are not lot nuances in the characters, most of them are amusing caricatures of archetypes, like the repressed Brits, the loquacious Italian, the swaggering American, the stern Russian etc. Even Poirot is something of a cartoon, with his small stature, egg-shaped head, gigantic moustaches and distinctive rendition of the English language, not to mention that certain “Je ne sais qui” thing he has going.Pristine, practically perfect Poirot, David Suchet

If this sounds like criticism it is not really, I find Christie’s narrative very charming, witty, entertaining, and cosy of course. It has a lovely old school sort of appeal, I love how much Poirot enjoys solving crimes and is always so upbeat. Her plotting, planting of red herrings and generally teasing her readers with misleading info is masterful. These elements are why her fiction is still enduring almost a century later. What I did not notice before when I read her books as a teenager is how she is also often subtly satirical, sending up various kinds of people. I also appreciate that her novels are mostly of moderate length so that she never outstays her welcome.

If you never read Agatha Christie start with this one or And Then There Were None. If you have read her before years ago and think her stuff is old hat now, try the hat on again for size. Great hats never go out of fashion 😉

Notes:• Christie’s other ace detective, Miss Marple, has even more unlikely methods, entirely based on observation or something.

• Major spoiler discussion: (view spoiler)[I do find the ending of this book morally dubious. Poirot allows the twelve murderers to get away with their crime after he has worked out their intricate plot and motivation because the victim is a murderer of little kids. Was Christie advocating vigilantism? (hide spoiler)]

Quotes:“That, to me, is the interest of this case,” he said. “We are cut off from all the normal routes of procedure. Are these people whose evidence we have taken speaking the truth, or lying? We have no means of finding out-except such means as we can devise ourselves. It is an exercise, this, of the brain.”

“I like to see an angry Englishman,” said Poirot. “They are very amusing. The more emotional they feel, the less command they have of language.”

“Ma foi!” said M. Bouc with violence. “But does everybody on this train tell lies?”

“His eyes rested for a moment on Hercule Poirot, but they passed on indifferently. Poirot, reading the English mind correctly, knew that he had said to himself. “Only some damned foreigner.”Peter Ustinov was a fun, upsized Poirot.

Alfred Molina as Poirot in a (bad) 2001 adaptation.["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>...more

I just realize something. I CANNOT BE A DETECTIVE. I suck on being a keen observer and I get confused easily. So yep, goodbye to my dream of being a detective.

This book is phenomenal!!! I'm in awe, this was ridiculously intriguing and exciting. This was my first Agatha Christie book and I devoured it.

What I love about this book is the tension between the characters and the sole mystery of who killed whom. I think that the author was successful in making this mystery5 stars!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SHORT REVIEW

I just realize something. I CANNOT BE A DETECTIVE. I suck on being a keen observer and I get confused easily. So yep, goodbye to my dream of being a detective.

This book is phenomenal!!! I'm in awe, this was ridiculously intriguing and exciting. This was my first Agatha Christie book and I devoured it.

What I love about this book is the tension between the characters and the sole mystery of who killed whom. I think that the author was successful in making this mystery novel so gripping and mind-twisting. I honestly can't put it down because my mind is making different guesses on how the murder was done and who had done it. To be honest, my brain cells was pushed to its limits because of this book. Lol

I hope the other works of Agatha Christie is this good. I'm looking forward for more engrossing and exciting mysteries by the queen of mystery herself......more

“If you will forgive me for being personal - I do not like your face.”

A much-loathed man is found murdered with multiple stab wounds on the luxurious Orient Express with 13 potential suspects. Who did it?

If you will forgive me for being personal... but I do not like YOUR face, Poirot. I’m sorry, Christie... it’s not you, it’s me. I can fully appreciate that Agatha Christie is the Queen of Crime - the level of detail and planning that obviously goes into constructing such complex crime scenes and“If you will forgive me for being personal - I do not like your face.”

A much-loathed man is found murdered with multiple stab wounds on the luxurious Orient Express with 13 potential suspects. Who did it?

If you will forgive me for being personal... but I do not like YOUR face, Poirot. I’m sorry, Christie... it’s not you, it’s me. I can fully appreciate that Agatha Christie is the Queen of Crime - the level of detail and planning that obviously goes into constructing such complex crime scenes and investigation work is impressive, but it’s really not to my personal taste.

The premise is exciting enough - all these strangers stuck on a train that has been sidelined by heavy snow and one of them is found murdered in his compartment - but that’s really where the intrigue ends for me. It felt very formulaic, which if all Christies are like this, I don’t think I could face another. The middle section in particular where Poirot interviews each of the passengers had me bored out of my skull! And the ending... I hated it so much, I rolled my eyes so hard I went partially blind!

As for Poirot himself, I cannot abide him! So self-congratulatory and smug at times. I also don’t like to have to work this hard when I’m reading FOR FUN. I felt like I was back in the lab searching through data and trying to keep the details straight in my head of who was where at what time and for how long.

I feel like I might be exiled from bookstagram/goodreads by all the Christie lovers, so please accept my sincerest apologies... Christie is clearly great at what she does, but it’s not my cup of tea. 2 stars....more

I really don't like over-hyping books (unless I'm talking about Sanderson.... then yes I will absolutely over hype it haha), so keep in mind that I usually try to rate books according to the genre they are in. Different genres hand themselves to different means of being rated. Like... I would never take a star off of a Sci-fi novel for not having a magic system, because magic has very little to do with the Sci-fi genre haha. As a mystery, certain componI. AM. SHOOK.

Wow.

A Full Five Stars:✰✰✰✰✰

I really don't like over-hyping books (unless I'm talking about Sanderson.... then yes I will absolutely over hype it haha), so keep in mind that I usually try to rate books according to the genre they are in. Different genres hand themselves to different means of being rated. Like... I would never take a star off of a Sci-fi novel for not having a magic system, because magic has very little to do with the Sci-fi genre haha. As a mystery, certain components that I normally look for in a book just aren't as important for this genre.

With that being said, this is absolutely a five star mystery. No, this is NOT a thriller, and it is NOT a drama. I feel like it's really important to temper those expectations, and I can't emphasize it enough, because if that's what you are looking for in this book, you will probably be disappointed. This is, plain and simple, a good ole' fashioned mystery, and among the best of its kind.

As I read this book, I couldn't help but think about all of the other mystery-type books that I've read, and even all of the crime and murder related TV Shows I have watched. My mind was drawn towards thinking about those, because quite literally, the plots and ideas and writing behind those books and TV Shows seem completely pedestrian next to Agatha Christie's. There is a reason she is the best selling author of all time - beaten only by the Bible and Shakespeare (who was a playwright). It's because you need the mind of a genius to write a book like this one, in all of its complexity and misdirection and minute detail.

Christie writes in such a way that makes you feel like you are right by Hercule Poirot's side as he processes every clue, every interview, every little piece of information. It almost feels like a race as you try to piece everything together in your own head, thinking you might be able to solve the mystery on your own, only to have those hopes dashed against the rocks of Poirot's brilliant mind (which is essentially credited to the author's brilliance, as well). I can't tell you how many times I thought I had it figured out.

And then I reached the last few chapters.... My mind was completely blown, because I DID NOT in any way whatsoever see that conclusion coming, among all of my meandering predictions of who committed the murder. I put the book down and felt like I had been cheated for my entire life by all of the weak mysteries I've read, because this book is everything that a mystery should be, and illustrates perfection in all of the areas that mysteries normally fail. All packed into a relatively small novel, making for a great before-bed kind of book.

It was compelling to read, which I was not expecting, considering the fact that they never leave the train. In spite of the bland setting though, this book kept me interested and invested the entire time.

This was my first Christie novel, but I can tell you for certain it will not be my last. I can't believe I've never read any of her books, and I'm kicking myself for not getting to these sooner. She has made a life long fan of me for sure - I can only hope her other books live up to this same standard of excellence. Adding this to my list of favorites for sure =].

As I started reading this mystery, I thought about whether I should read with the intent to ferret out the clues and deduce the criminal mastermind, or whether I should just sit back and enjoy the careful unveiling of the facts. Ultimately, I decided to go with the latter, mostly because I know I am no detective, especially not to match the likes of Poirot.

Hercule Poirot makes detective work look easy and relatively effortless. His friend M. Bouc reminds him of this: "Lie back and think -- useAs I started reading this mystery, I thought about whether I should read with the intent to ferret out the clues and deduce the criminal mastermind, or whether I should just sit back and enjoy the careful unveiling of the facts. Ultimately, I decided to go with the latter, mostly because I know I am no detective, especially not to match the likes of Poirot.

Hercule Poirot makes detective work look easy and relatively effortless. His friend M. Bouc reminds him of this: "Lie back and think -- use (as I have heard you say so often) the little grey cells of the mind -- and you will know!" (p. 56) Poirot himself admits that "[This mystery] is a matter of the intellect." (p. 192) He goes on to say that he does not rely on intuition, but regards the probabilities. His investigation proceeds in an orderly fashion, advancing one step at a time. Seemingly, if the reader also follows this logical, methodical, and thoughtful procedure, then they will also be able to solve the crime. But alas, it is not so easy, at least for this reader. I am consoled that M. Bouc must too defer to the great detective saying,"The elucidation of crime is your métier, not mine, my friend." (p. 250)

It is a superb mystery with many suspects and red herrings to keep you on your toes. Each new clue will have you revising your theory. As you draw closer to the conclusion and final reveal, you will find yourself agreeing with Dr. Constantine when he states "This is more wildly improbable than any roman policier I have ever read." (p. 292)

I don't know who to admire more -- Agatha Christie for crafting such a marvelous mystery, or Hercule Poirot for having the superior intellect to solve it. Bravo to both of them! ...more

Hercule Poirot is a Belgian private detective, the central character in many of the famous Agatha Christie’s detective novels. In the 'Murder on The Orient Express', Poirot is on the Simplon Orient Express. The night is unnervingly quiet outside, but the train is unusually loud inside. Poirot is unable to sleep. He hears sounds from the compartment of a fellow traveller, Mr.Rachett; the sounds of running water, sounds of footsteps, someone was‘And now a passenger lies dead in his berth-stabbed.’

Hercule Poirot is a Belgian private detective, the central character in many of the famous Agatha Christie’s detective novels. In the 'Murder on The Orient Express', Poirot is on the Simplon Orient Express. The night is unnervingly quiet outside, but the train is unusually loud inside. Poirot is unable to sleep. He hears sounds from the compartment of a fellow traveller, Mr.Rachett; the sounds of running water, sounds of footsteps, someone washing their hands, someone moving about, all keep him awake. He then gradually dozes off.

[image error]Hercule Poirot

A dangerous criminal is the target of the night. Out there is someone who wants revenge. A murder has taken place in a compartment neighbouring Poirot’s. Alas! He is unaware of it till morning. Following the revelation, preliminary investigations start off and are handled by Poirot, M. Bouc, and Dr.Constantine.The end of this particular chapter marks the beginning of the actual novel. The murdered man, Mr. Rachett is found to be the mastermind behind a famous child kidnapping case that took places years back in America. This is reminiscent of the abduction of Charles Lindbergh's son. The initial thought that occurs is that the person behind the murder must be a person related to the child who was kidnapped and murdered by Rachett.

The story moves forward with interesting interrogations that give insight into who might be the killer. The other 12 passengers and the wagon master in the coach are interviewed, facts are collected, further questions and suspicions arise and answers are found. There is a lady’s handkerchief in Rachett’s compartment, a cigar has been dropped accidently by the murderer, there is a lady in a scarlet kimono who was seen running away, a button from a wagon master’s uniform all form part of a growing body of crucial evidence.

Books detailing crime investigations have always been a fascination for many of us. One is always on a guessing game as to who might be the probable culprit. The mistress of the classic whodunnit is definitely Agatha Christie. Murder on The Orient Express is one of her finest.Christie has dedicated a chapter each to the all the passengers in the coach as they put forward their thoughts on the murder. They also come across as important sources of information. Christie’s writing style, Poirot’s questioning, and reasoning abilities all impress tremendously. The evidence provided by the others are enough to keep one glued to the book and go through a sleepless night till the mystery is solved. Christie has given a unique touch to the ending to the mystery. This can, however, come across as a surprise to some and a disappointment to some.

Agatha Christie has her unique trademark style of setting the pace of the novel. The initial part of the book may seem a little slow paced for some of the readers. The initial happenings of how Poirot’s travel on the Taurus Express, Poirot receiving an emergency message to return to London, or how he obtains a first class ticket on the Simplon Orient Express, and various instances of interactions with the co-passengers on the train unfurl in slow momentum. One might be tempted to overlook the facts presented in the initial parts of the book. However, it is only later on that one comes to know how Christie puts forward the evidence subtly in the beginning of the book which our dear Poirot makes use of later on to solve the mystery.

A key player in this novel who adds to the mystery is the Orient Express itself. Christie had thoroughly enjoyed her solo trip in 1928. The structure, the fittings are all described in detail in the novel, making it a railfan's dream.Written in 1934, Murder on The Orient Express has had people taking the train to verify its details.In speaking about the plot of the novel Agatha had quipped:

The impossible could not have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances.

‘Murder on he Orient Express’, is yet another contribution by Christie to the list of famous detective novels. The book comes across as a good read for those especially interested in the detective genre. The book has been made into a movie in the year 1974, featuring Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall and the amazing Ingrid Bergman.

Murder on The Orient Express is once again being adapted for the movie screen and is due to be released in 2017. This highlights the fact Agatha Christie still remains one of the most sought after writer years after her death and also a favourite among young children and adults equally.2016, marks the hundredth year of Agatha Christie creating Hercule Poirot. This remarkable lady who felt the best time to ideate on a book was while washing dishes, has delighted us with her elegant prose, beautiful settings and logical loops.Murder on The Orient Express is a masterful flourish that will last a hundred years more....more

The biggest question I'm taking away from this is, why oh why had I not read an Agatha Christie book until now?! This was such a fun read. I absolutely loved the structure of the tree parts with the facts, evidence and conclusion. It made it so easy to follow and constantly kept you thinking and guessing. It also meant you got to meet and experience the interrogation of each character and suspect in depth. I loved all of the characters and the fact that I didn't predict the conclusion until muchThe biggest question I'm taking away from this is, why oh why had I not read an Agatha Christie book until now?! This was such a fun read. I absolutely loved the structure of the tree parts with the facts, evidence and conclusion. It made it so easy to follow and constantly kept you thinking and guessing. It also meant you got to meet and experience the interrogation of each character and suspect in depth. I loved all of the characters and the fact that I didn't predict the conclusion until much later on (and still found myself second guessing my suspicions) was the best experience. This was exactly the classic murder mystery read I've been told to read for years and I now understand why. I can't wait to read more of Christies work as soon as possible. (I'm also so ready for the new movie adaptation!) ...more

Hercule Poirot is supposed to be on holiday but he gets called to London and rides the Orient Express back. Unexpetedly, the train is stopped due to a snowfrift and matters take an interesting turn when Samuel Ratchett, an American millionaire, is found dead inside his locked cabin, stabbed multiple times. Poirot is asked with finding the culprit and with a standstill murder scene, the muderer must be one of the passengers.

Agatha Christie does it again! To call this novel good is not enough. ItsHercule Poirot is supposed to be on holiday but he gets called to London and rides the Orient Express back. Unexpetedly, the train is stopped due to a snowfrift and matters take an interesting turn when Samuel Ratchett, an American millionaire, is found dead inside his locked cabin, stabbed multiple times. Poirot is asked with finding the culprit and with a standstill murder scene, the muderer must be one of the passengers.

Agatha Christie does it again! To call this novel good is not enough. Its magnificent, exceptional, unexpected, brilliant. I am in awe. Initially, I only intended to read a few chapters but ended up reading the whole book in one sit. With a variety of intriguing characters and an elegant train wagon, Christie transports the reader to a different time and era. As more clues unravel and motivations come to light, suspicion passes from one passenger to the next like a hot potato. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I gotta say I did not see that ending coming AT ALL. Its no wonder how the Great Dame of mystery still is quite popular today. Can not wait for the movie adapation to come out (I hope they stick to the novel as much as possible). Hercule Poirot is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite literary characters. A must read....more

You are Mr. Ratchett. Or are you? Fame is not something you crave; comfortable retreat is your desired goal. You do not have a nice face and foreigners appear to hold that against you. In fact, all the passengers on this express ride through Europe seem to find displeasure in looking at what you consider to be a rather dignified and intelligent face. It is mystifying! Why all the cold shoulders? Why all the quickly averted glances? Why the anonymous notes? Your frustratChoose Your Own Adventure!

You are Mr. Ratchett. Or are you? Fame is not something you crave; comfortable retreat is your desired goal. You do not have a nice face and foreigners appear to hold that against you. In fact, all the passengers on this express ride through Europe seem to find displeasure in looking at what you consider to be a rather dignified and intelligent face. It is mystifying! Why all the cold shoulders? Why all the quickly averted glances? Why the anonymous notes? Your frustration mounts; you do not like mysteries. Surely it is time to disembark... perhaps forever? Whatever is an American abroad to do?

Less than 24 hours after reading my first Agatha Christie, "And Then There Were None", I delved into the book that a former student of mine told me was " the best mystery story of all time." Now why I might quibble with the last part of that statement, I certainly wouldn't argue that it's a darn good tale. A murder on a snowbound train and every character is a suspect and the action is full speed ahead- Fantastic!

Agatha Christie is the best-selling author of all time. She wrote eighty crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and several other books. Her books have sold roughly four billion copies and have been translated into 45 languages. She is tAgatha Christie also wrote romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott, and was occasionally published under the name Agatha Christie Mallowan.

Agatha Christie is the best-selling author of all time. She wrote eighty crime novels and story collections, fourteen plays, and several other books. Her books have sold roughly four billion copies and have been translated into 45 languages. She is the creator of two of the most enduring figures in crime literature-Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple-and author of The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the history of modern theatre.

Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller was born in Torquay, Devon, England, U.K., as the youngest of three. The Millers had two other children: Margaret Frary Miller (1879–1950), called Madge, who was eleven years Agatha's senior, and Louis Montant Miller (1880–1929), called Monty, ten years older than Agatha.

During the First World War, she worked at a hospital as a nurse; later working at a hospital pharmacy, a job that influenced her work, as many of the murders in her books are carried out with poison.

Her first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, came out in 1920. During her first marriage, Agatha published six novels, a collection of short stories, and a number of short stories in magazines.

In late 1926, Agatha's husband, Archie, revealed that he was in love with another woman, Nancy Neele, and wanted a divorce. On 8 December 1926 the couple quarreled, and Archie Christie left their house, Styles, in Sunningdale, Berkshire, to spend the weekend with his mistress at Godalming, Surrey. That same evening Agatha disappeared from her home, leaving behind a letter for her secretary saying that she was going to Yorkshire. Her disappearance caused an outcry from the public, many of whom were admirers of her novels. Despite a massive manhunt, she was not found for eleven days.

In 1930, Christie married archaeologist Max Mallowan (Sir Max from 1968) after joining him in an archaeological dig. Their marriage was especially happy in the early years and remained so until Christie's death in 1976.

Christie frequently used familiar settings for her stories. Christie's travels with Mallowan contributed background to several of her novels set in the Middle East. Other novels (such as And Then There Were None) were set in and around Torquay, where she was born. Christie's 1934 novel Murder on the Orient Express was written in the Hotel Pera Palace in Istanbul, Turkey, the southern terminus of the railway. The hotel maintains Christie's room as a memorial to the author. The Greenway Estate in Devon, acquired by the couple as a summer residence in 1938, is now in the care of the National Trust.

Christie often stayed at Abney Hall in Cheshire, which was owned by her brother-in-law, James Watts. She based at least two of her stories on the hall: the short story The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding, and the novel After the Funeral. Abney Hall became Agatha's greatest inspiration for country-house life, with all the servants and grandeur which have been woven into her plots.

During the Second World War, Christie worked in the pharmacy at University College Hospital of University College, London, where she acquired a knowledge of poisons that she put to good use in her post-war crime novels.

To honour her many literary works, she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1956 New Year Honours. The next year, she became the President of the Detection Club.